FlowerHollyhock
Indian Spring Hollyhock
Biennial Hollyhock
Indian Spring Hollyhock is a frost-hardy biennial or short-lived perennial that rewards early planting with abundant blooms in its first summer, or wait until the following year for a reliable show. Growing 60 to 84 inches tall with classic 3-inch flowers in jewel tones of fuchsia, pink, rose, and magenta, this cultivar thrives across zones 3 through 8 and handles poor soils and drought with impressive resilience. Native to temperate Asian climates and altitudes, it's a tenacious performer that will even send up a second flush of flowers in fall if you deadhead spent stalks and keep watering through the season.
Photo © True Leaf Market(https://www.trueleafmarket.com/products/hollyhock-indian-spring-flower-seeds)
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-8
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam
Preferred Temp60-75°F
Growth Stats
84 in
Height
24 in
Width
PeriodBiennial
TypeSpike
Spacing
18-24 inches apart
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-8
Size
84in H x 24in W
Growth
Biennial
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
Plant Indian Spring early indoors and you'll have blooms by midsummer; sow later and it flowers the following year, giving you flexibility in your garden timeline. The tall, stately spires produce continuous waves of color from June through November when you remove spent flower stalks and maintain consistent water. Its surprising drought tolerance and ability to thrive in poor soils make it a low-fuss choice for gardeners in colder regions who want classic cottage garden height and presence without coddling.
Common Uses
Indian Spring Hollyhock is grown for its tall, dramatic flower spires that create vertical structure and old-fashioned charm in borders, cottage gardens, and cutting gardens. The abundant blooms attract pollinators throughout the summer and fall, making it valuable for supporting bee and butterfly populations. Florists and garden arrangers prize the tall stems and long bloom season for fresh arrangements.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Mid-summer
First Harvest
N/a
Last Harvest
N/a
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last expected frost date. Sow seeds in biodegradable pots or individual containers to minimize root disturbance during transplanting. Provide a strong light source and keep the seed starting mix evenly moist. Select Seeds recommends chilling seeds at 35 to 40°F for 10 days before moving them to 65 to 70°F for germination, or use a humidity dome to maintain moisture until sprouts emerge. Seeds typically germinate in 13 to 25 days.
Transplant Outdoors
When seedlings reach 3 to 4 inches tall, gradually acclimate them to outdoor conditions over several days. Transplant into the garden 12 to 18 inches apart after your last frost date has passed. Use biodegradable pots when starting indoors so you can plant the entire pot directly in the ground, avoiding the root disturbance that hollyhocks resent.
Direct Sow
Direct sow outdoors 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, or 2 months before your average first fall frost date. Press seeds lightly into the soil surface and keep the seedbed consistently moist until germination. Early indoor starts will produce flowering plants in summer and fall of the same year; direct-sown seeds will bloom the following year.
Pruning
Deadhead spent flower stalks just above ground level as blossoms fade to encourage a second flush of blooms in fall. Continue watering and fertilizing after deadheading so roots can push new flower spires. This extended deadheading practice transforms Indian Spring from a single summer show into a two-season performer.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Drought TolerantAttracts Pollinators
Soil pH Range
6 – 7
Bloom Time
Summer To Fall
Scientific Classification
Alcea rosea L.
Family
Malvaceae
Genus
Alcea
Duration
Biennial, Perennial
Growth Habit
Forb/herb
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)CAN (I)
History & Origin
“Indian Spring Hollyhock represents a line of cultivars selected for reliability and early flowering across North American growing zones. The variety draws from hollyhock genetics native to temperate Asian climates and mountain altitudes, where plants evolved to handle variable conditions and shorter growing seasons. Seed companies have refined this cultivar specifically to deliver first-year flowering when started early indoors, expanding the appeal of hollyhocks beyond traditional two-year waits and making the species accessible to more gardeners across colder regions.”